Page 19 of Twisted Vows

“Of course.”

I turn to Pasha. “Make sure the security’s tight but invisible. I want her safe, but I don’t want her feeling like she’s being watched every second.”

“And if she doesn’t take to it here? If she tries to bolt?” Pasha asks quietly.

“Then we adapt,” I reply. “But she won’t because there’s nowhere safer than here.”

Rolling my shoulders, I let out a frustrated breath. Pasha and Mila know the stakes, but they don’t know Ari. They don’t know what she’ll do if she feels caged.

Hell, neither do I, if I’m being honest.

“Any other questions?” Mila shakes her head and then walks quickly from the room. Pasha lingers for a moment, clearly wanting to say something. “What is it?” I ask impatiently.

He hesitates, then finally says, “The interior designer left this.” He slides a card out of his pocket and holds it out. “She wants you to know she’s available whenever you need her. Day or night.”

I take the card and stare at it. The woman is beautiful. And accommodating. But there is no place for her in my new life. “If she calls, tell her that Mrs. Volkov will get in touch when she’s ready to redecorate.” I tear the card in two and drop it into Pasha’s hand, ignoring his surprised look.

“We’re walking into the unknown, and the last thing I will do is drag my past into it.”

“Of course.” He turns on his heel and strides out of the room with an approving smirk.

After I pour myself a drink, I look out the window. The house is ready. The wedding is two days away, and my gut is telling me I’ll be lucky if Ari shows up.

I take a sip, the burn of the whiskey doing little to ease the weight in my chest. I’ve spent my life building walls—around myself, around everything I care about. But this? This is different. This isn’t about her, me, or whether she’ll see this house as a cage.

If this marriage fails, the alliance crumbles. And our enemies’ blood will flood the streets.

CHAPTER NINE

Read the rules before you break them.

Ari

Gianna tugs at the lace on my wedding dress, muttering about how it’s too tight. “Who picked this torture device?” She’s trying to make me laugh, but nothing will lighten this moment.

Luna fiddles with my veil, pretending everything is fine. “If you faint at the altar, just make sure to fall toward Maxsim,” she says with a smile. “I hear Russian men like a damsel in distress.”

“I’d rather be the fire-breathing dragon in the story,” I mutter before taking a long breath.

“Elizabeth,” Gianna says, grinning. “The magenta dragon inShrek. Big, terrifying, and totally in love with the donkey.”

Luna makes one last adjustment in my veil. “Is it too late to switch Maxsim for a donkey?”

I shoot them both a look but can’t help the small smile that sneaks up. Leave it to my cousins to lighten the mood just as I’m about to walk into the fire.

The door creaks open and the air shifts. Gianna and Luna exchange a glance. I feel the room tighten, my spine straightening as if on instinct. Ma walks in, her unyielding stare locking onto mine.

“Leave us,” she orders, and my cousins reluctantly obey. I swallow hard, noticing her voice doesn’t snap like it usually does when she’s about to lay into me.

Gianna and Luna exchange glances, hesitating briefly before leaving.

“Sit down, Arianna.”

I ignore the command. Not because I need one last confrontation but because today is different. I’m about to step into a life I didn’t choose, and following her orders seems pointless. I watch her gaze sharpen and match it. “This is your last chance to deliver a scathing lecture, so make it a good one.”

Ma pauses and then clears her throat. “You think I’ve been hard on you. But you don’t know what it’s like, the things I’ve endured… I wanted to make you strong, Ari. Stronger than I was.” Her voice wavers, just for a second, before she catches herself. She looks at me, her eyes sharp but rimmed with something unfamiliar—regret, maybe.

I blink twice. Is that softness in her voice?

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